Food Intolerances, Leaky Gut and “Endotoxemia”
If you’re following a personalized Blood Type Diet or SWAMI23 nutrigenomic diet, or you’re new to the world of personalized medicine, and still experiencing food sensitivities, this one’s for you.
Does this sound like you?
Gas and bloating after meals
Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Fatigue, brain fog
Skin conditions like acne, or eczema
Histamine intolerance
Joint pain
Elevated blood markers of inflammation
If so, you and your CGM doc may want to investigate a condition called “Leaky Gut” at your next consult.
Leaky Gut, also known as intestinal permeability and metabolic endotoxemia, is a condition in which the cells that line the wall of our digestive tract (which are normally tightly buttoned up by a snap-like protein called zonulin), loosen.
This loosening of the gut’s integrity allows food-based antigens (immune-reactive molecules) to escape out of the gut lumen and interface with the immune system, inciting both local and systemic inflammation, and putting you at risk for developing food sensitivities.
Bacterial antigens also escape through this leakiness. The main perpetrators are large molecules called Lipopolysaccharides (LPS for short), which are found on gram-negative bacteria such as Bacteroides. LPS acts to stimulate our immune cells to incite inflammation.
Metabolic Endotoxemia, is a persistent low grade inflammation stemming from circulating LPS. It has been associated with a number of poor health outcomes, including liver disease, autoimmunity, diabetes, obesity, and mood disorders.
It’s estimated that nearly one-third of those in Western countries have some degree of metabolic endotoxemia. Here at CGM, we screen our patients for intestinal permeability with the following parameters:
Abundance of Collinsella species. Using our Utopia microbiome platform, we check for high levels of Collinsella aerofaciens. This bug preferentially chows down on zonulin, that snap protein that keeps our gut cells tightly sealed.
Hypermobility. Are you “double-jointed”? Many people with inherited variations in connective tissue-related genes experience “leakiness” of many tissues. As part of our Opus23 Genomic analysis, we screen patients for mutations in collagen-synthesis genes, which can result in an ingrained weakness in gut integrity.
History of radiation to the gut. Radiation can damage tissue; we use this capacity for good! In patients with a history of radiation to the gut, we pay special attention to the cells of the local environment and work hard to get them working again.
Stress. The health effects of stress are innumerable. Stress engages the sympathetic, fight-or-flight side of the nervous system. The neuro-endocrine cascade that ensues results in a reduction in immune function, especially in the gut. Regardless of your health goals, we at CGM prioritize supporting a healthy stress response through modulating your specific gene expression, prioritizing self-expression, and emphasizing setting healthy boundaries.
Poor diet. We’re all guilty of poor dietary choices at times, but in patients with lifelong consumption histories of the “Standard American Diet,” we pay extra close attention to the potential for endotoxemia.
Strategies to Prevent Leaky Gut and Metabolic Endotoxemia
Eat a diet rich in polyphenols and fiber to feed beneficial gut species. Think blueberries, pomegranate seeds, green tea, and kiwis.
Reduce your use of NSAIDs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can increase intestinal permeability.
Reduce your stress levels.
Reduce or eliminate your alcohol intake.
Avoid smoking and vaping!
If you suspect you may have metabolic endotoxemia or leaky gut, reach out to your CGM doc to schedule a consult, or schedule a free of charge Discovery Call. They’ll walk you through a personalized strategy plan to get you where you need to go.